Transportation system having inertial switch system

ABSTRACT

A transportation system particularly suitable for vehicles having omnidirectional suspension system, such as air cushion devices, including a system of paths of travel for the vehicle having a plurality of diverging branch lines and a main line feeding toward the junction of the branch lines. A transition section connects the main line with the branch lines and is operable for directing the vehicle from the main line onto a selected one of the branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle.

United States Patent Donlon 1 Aug. 1,1972

[54] TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HAVING INERTIAL SWITCH SYSTEM [72] Inventor:Richard H. Donlon, Denver, C010.

[73] Assignee: Transportation Technology, Inc.,

Denver, C010.

[22] Filed: Sept. 16, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 72,602

[52] I US. Cl. ..104/130, 104/23 FS, 104/134 [51] Int. Cl ..E0lb 25/12,B6lb 13/08 [58] Field of Search ..46/43, 216; 209/115, 120;

104/23 FS, 148 LM, 60, 130; 273/86 R, 86 B [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,128,848 8/1938 Rafetto ..209/115 3,098,454 7/1963Maestrelli ..104/130 3,500,765 3/1970 Easton ..104/130 3,593,665 7/1971Marty ..104/130 1,335,422 3/1920 Blair ..209/120 764,478 7/1904 Lewis..209/120 3,377,958 4/1968 Bax.; ..273/86 B 3,290,498 12/1966 Lahr..273/86 R 3,291,392 12/1966 Cramer 104/60 Primary Examiner-Gerald M.Forlenza Assistant Examiner-D. W. Keen AttorneyBarnard, McGlynn &Reising 5 7] ABSTRACT A transportation system particularly suitable forvehicles having omnidirectional suspension system, such as air cushiondevices, including a system of paths of travel for the vehicle having aplurality of diverging branch lines and a main line feeding toward thejunction of the branch lines. A transition section connects the mainline with the branch lines and is operable for directing the vehiclefrom the main line onto a selected one of the branch lines in accordancewith the speed of the vehicle.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM HAVING INERTIAL SWITCHSYSTEM This invention relates generally to transportation systems and isparticularly concerned with transportation systems including vehicles,pallets or the like for carrying personnel or cargo, and which aresupported by air operated levitation devices or other omnidirectionalsuspension means.

In transportation or article handling systems utilizing vehicles orpallets having omnidirectional suspension means such as the type of aircushion devices disclosed in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,321,038; 3,357,511 and3,470,827, the vehicles must generally be stopped in order to switchfrom one path of travel to another, or elaborate switching apparatusmust be provided.

An object of this invention is to provide a transportation systemwherein switching of the vehicle from one path or track to another isaccomplished by varying the speed of the vehicle as it approaches ajunction of two or more diverging paths.

Another object is to provide a transportation system wherein a vehicleis automatically directed onto a selected one of a plurality ofdiverging paths, tracks or road beds in accordance with the speed of thevehicle.

In carrying out the foregoing, and other objects, a transportationsystem according to the present invention includes a system of paths,tracks or road beds with diverging branch lines, and a main line thatfeeds toward the junction of the diverging branch lines. A curvedtransition section connects the main line with the junction of thebranch lines so that centrifugal force acts on a vehicle traveling fromthe main line over the transition section toward the branch lines. Asthe speed of the vehicle increases, the vehicle will tend to move towardthe outer periphery of the curved transition section due to the actionof centrifugal force. With the branch lines diverging from the switchsection, the vehicle will move onto a branch line adjacent the innerperiphery of the curved transition section at low speeds I and will bedirected onto a branch line toward the outer periphery of the curvedtransition section at higher speeds.

The outer peripheral edge of the curved transition section is elevatedwith respect to the inner peripheral edge so that at low speeds, gravitywill maintain the vehicle near the inner peripheral edge of thetransition section to direct it on to the appropriate branch lineadjacent the inner peripheral edge of the transition section.

A vehicle traveling over the curved transition section is laterallyrestrained against the action of centrifugal force by a high speed guiderail concentric with the outer peripheral edge of the transition sectionand is laterally restrained against the action of gravity when travelingat low speeds by a low speed guide rail concentric with the innerperipheral edge of the transition section. The high speed guide rail maycomprise a side wall projecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edgeof the transition section, and similarly, the low speed guide rail maycomprise a side wall projecting upwardly from the inner peripheral edgeof the transition section.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a transportation system embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on lines 22 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a modification of theinvention.

In the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates a vehicle havingomnidirectional suspension means in the form of air cushion devices 4.Vehicle 2 is propelled by a linear electric motor having one element 8embedded in the surface over which the vehicle travels and the otherelement 6 carried by the vehicle 2. The linear electric motor orpropulsion means may also be of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.3,357,511. Rollers or buffers 10 are carried by the vehicle 2 as shownin FIG. 2 for engagement with the side rails or walls of the guideway asindicated at 12 and 14 in FIG. 2.

The guideway system is collectively designated by reference numeral 16inFIG. 1 and includes a main line or path 18 which feeds toward thejunction 21 of a pair of diverging branch lines or paths 22 and 24, themain line being connected with the branch lines by a curved transitionsection or portion designated generally by reference numeral 20. Thetransition or switch section 20 is curved and has an inner peripheraledge 26 extending from the inner peripheral edge 28 of the main line 18to the inner peripheral edge 30 of the inner branch line 24. The outerperipheral edge 32 of the transition section 20 connects the peripheraledge 34 of the main line 18 with the outer peripheral edge 36 of theouter branch line 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the outer peripheral edge 32of the transition section 20 is elevated with respect to the innerperipheral edge 26 such that the vehicle supporting surface 38 of thetransition section is inclined downwardly from the outer peripheral edgeto the inner peripheral edge.

The side wall or rail 12 of the transition section 20 projects upwardlyfrom the outer peripheral edge 32 and forms a continuation of similarside rails 40 and 42 for the main line 18 and outer branch line 22,respectively. Similarly, the side wall or side rail 14 projects upwardlyfrom the inner peripheral edge 26 of the transition section 20 and formsa continuation of similar side walls 44 and 46 for the main line 18 andouter branch line 24, respectively. The branch lines 22 and 24 may alsobe provided with side walls 48 and 50, respectively which converge atthe junction 21.

As a vehicle moves from the main line 18 onto the transition section 20,gravity will urge the vehicle 2 toward the inner peripheral edge 26 andside rail 14, while centrifugal force on the vehicle will urge thevehicle toward the outer peripheral edge 32 and engagement with siderail 12. The path of travel over the branch lines 22 or 24 can beselected in accordance with the speed of the vehicle. By increasing thespeed, the centrifugal force on the vehicle is increased and the vehicleis directed onto the outer branch line 22. The vehicle can be directedonto the inner branch line 24 by holding the speed of the vehicle at apoint such that the centrifugal force does not overcome the effects ofgravity on the vehicle so that the vehicle follows the inner side rail14 onto the inner branch line 24. The sequential position of the vehicle2 at high speed is illustrated in phantom lines at 2a and 2b in FIG. 1,and the vehicle traveling at low speed onto branch 24 is illustrated inphantom lines at 20.

FIG. 3 illustrates a back-up safety device which may be desirable forpassenger vehicles in the system in the event that the vehicle attainsan incorrect speed for directingit onto either branch line due to apower failure or the like when the sidewalls 48 and 50 are present.Rollers or followers 60 and 62 are respectively mounted on the ends ofbell crank levers 64 and 66 pivotally mounted on the vehicle. The bellcrank levers 64 and 66 are pivotally connected together by a crosslink68. In the position shown in FIG. 3, roller 60 is received between theside rail and a plate member 70 mounted on the inner edge of an overhangor inwardly projecting flange 72. Roller 62 is in a lowered, inactiveposition to permit the vehicle to move away from the right hand siderail of FIG. 3. By shifting the cross-link 68 to the left, roller 60will drop out of engagement with plate 70 and roller 62 will be raisedinto the active position to be received between a plate 74 mounted onthe overhang 76 and the right hand side rail. Plates 70 and 74 togetherwith the overhang portions 72 and 76 define grooves for retaining theactive roller 60 and 62.

The drawings thus illustrate a transportation system comprising avehicle 2, a system of paths of travel designated generally by referencenumeral 16 and com prising a plurality of diverging branch lines 22 and24 and a main line 18 feeding toward the junction 21 of the branchlines. Means 20 in the form of a curved transition section directs thevehicle from the main line onto a selected one of the branch lines inaccordance with the speed of the vehicle 2. The branch lines include anouter branch line 22 extending from the transition section 20 adjacentthe outer peripheral edge 32 of the transition section, and an innerbranch line 24 extending from the transition section 20 adjacent theinner peripheral edge 26 of the transition section, the outer peripheraledge 32 being elevated with respect to the inner peripheral edge 26.Means 12, 14 laterally restrain the vehicle against the action ofcentrifugal force when the vehicle travels at high speeds over thetransition section and restrains the vehicle against the action ofgravity when the vehicle travels at low speeds over the transitionsection 20. The lateral restraining means is in the form of a high speedguide rail 12 which is concentric with the outer peripheral edge of thetransition section that is engageable by the vehicle at high speeds. Thehigh speed guide rail 12 in the illustrated embodiment is in the form ofa side wall projecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of thetransition section. The lateral restraining means further comprises alow speed guide rail concentric with the inner peripheral edge 26 of thetransition section 20 and is engageable by the vehicle at low speeds,the low speed guide rail in the illustrated embodiment being in the formof a side wall 14 projecting upwardly from the inner peripheral edge 26of the transition section.

While a specific form of the invention is illustrated and described inthe accompanying drawings and foregoing specification it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the exact constructionshown. Various alterations in the construction and arrangement, allfalling within the scope and spirit of the invention, will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; a system of paths oftravel for said vehicle comprising a plurality of diverging branch linesand a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch lines; andmeans for directing said vehicle from said main line onto a selected oneof said branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle; saidmeans comprising a curved route transition section connecting said mainline with said branch line; said plurality of branch lines includes anouter branch line extending from said transition section adjacent theouter peripheral edge of said transition section and an inner branchline extending from said transition section adjacent the innerperipheral edge of said transition section; theouter peripheral edge ofsaid transition section being elevated with respect to the innerperipheral edge thereof; further including means for laterallyrestraining said vehicle against the action of centrifugal force whensaid vehicle travels at high speeds over said transition section and forlaterally restraining said vehicle against the action of gravity whensaid vehicle travels at low speeds over said transition section; saidlast named means comprising a high speed guide rail concentric with theouter peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by saidvehicle at high speeds and a low speed guide rail concentric with theinner peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by saidvehicle at low speeds; said high speed guide rail comprising a side wallprojecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said transitionsection, and said low speed guide rail comprising a side wall projectingupwardly from the inner peripheral edge of said transition section.

2. A transportation system as claimed in claim 1 including air cushionsuspension means for said vehicle.

3. A transportation system as claimed in claim 2 wherein said vehicle ispropelled by a linear electric motor.

4. A transportation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the primary ofsaid linear motor is embedded in the surface of said system of paths andthe secondary is carried by said vehicle.

5. A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; omnidirectionalsuspension means for said vehicle; a system of paths of travel for saidvehicle including inner and outer diverging branch lines, a main linefeeding toward the junction of said branch line, and a curved transitionsection connecting said main line with said branch lines; the outerperipheral edge of said transition section being raised with respect tothe inner peripheral edge; said inner branch line extending from saidtransition section adjacent said inner peripheral edge and said outerbranch line extending from said transition section adjacent said outerperipheral edge; a high speed guide rail concentric with said outerperipheral edge and engageable by said vehicle traveling at high speedsto guide the vehicle onto said outer branch line; and a low speed guiderail engageable by said vehicle traveling at low speeds to guide thevehicle onto said inner branch line.

6. A guideway system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said omnidirectionalsuspension means comprises at least one air operated levitation device.

7. A guideway system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said vehicle ispropelled by a linear electric motor, one element of which is embeddedin said system of paths and the other element of which is carried bysaid vehicle.

8. A transportation system comprising: a vehicle having omnidirectionalsuspension means; a guideway system for said vehicle including a mainline having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced parallelside walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, a pair of divergingbranch lines each having a vehicle supporting surface, a pair of spacedparallel side walls for laterally restraining the vehicle, and a curvedtransition section connecting said main line with said branch line; saidtransition section having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair ofspaced side walls diverging from the side walls of said main line forlaterally restraining the vehicle, the outer said wall of saidtransition section connecting with the outer side wall of one of saidbranch lines and the inner side wall of said transition sectionconnecting with the outer side wall of the other branch line; thevehicle supporting surface of said transition section being inclineddownwardly from its outer peripheral edge to its inner peripheral edge,and the inner side walls of said branch lines converging at the junctionof said branch lines.

9. A guideway system as claimed in claim 8 including means defining aretaining groove on each of the side walls; and a pair of followersselectively and alternately engageable with a respective one of thegrooves to restrain the vehicle against movement from the associatedsidewall.

1. A transportation system comprising: a vehicle; a system of paths oftravel for said vehicle comprising a plurality of diverging branch linesand a main line feeding toward the junction of said branch lines; andmeans for directing said vehicle from said main line onto a selected oneof said branch lines in accordance with the speed of the vehicle; saidmeans comprising a curved route transition section connecting said mainline with said branch line; said plurality of branch lines includes anouter branch line extending from said transition section adjacent theouter peripheral edge of said transition section and an inner branchline extending from said transition section adjacent the innerperipheral edge of said transition section; the outer peripheral edge ofsaid transition section being elevated with respect to the innerperipheral edge thereof; further including means for laterallyrestraining said vehicle against the action of centrifugal force whensaid vehicle travels at high speeds over said transition section and forlaterally restraining said vehicle against the action of gravity whensaid vehicle travels at low speeds over said transition section; saidlast named means comprising a high speed guide rail concentric with theouter peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by saidvehicle at high speeds and a low speed guide rail concentric with theinner peripheral edge of said transition section and engageable by saidvehicle at low speeds; said high speed guide rail comprising a side wallprojecting upwardly from the outer peripheral edge of said transitionsection, and said low speed guide rail comprising a side wall projectingupwardly from the inner peripheral edge of said transition section.
 2. Atransportation system as claimed in claim 1 including air cushionsuspension means for said vehicle.
 3. A transportation system as claimedin claim 2 wherein said vehicle is propelled by a linear electric motor.4. A transportation system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the primary ofsaid linear motor is embedded in the surface of said system of paths andthe secondary is carried by said vehicle.
 5. A transportation systemcomprising: a vehicle; omnidirectional suspension means for saidvehicle; a system of paths of travel for said vehicle including innerand outer diverging branch lines, a main line feeding toward thejunction of said branch line, and a curved transition section connectingsaid main line with said branch lines; the outer peripheral edge of saidtransition section being raised with respect to the inner peripheraledge; said inner branch line extending from said transition sectionadjacent said inner peripheral edge and said outer branch line extendingfrom said transition section adjacent said outer peripheral edge; a highspeed guide rail concentric with said outer peripheral edge andengageable by said vehicle traveling at high speeds to guide the vehicleonto said outer branch line; and a low speed guide rail engageable bysaid vehicle traveling at low speeds to guide the vehicle onto saidinner branch line.
 6. A guideway system as claimed in claim 5 whereinsaid omnidirectional suspension means comprises at least one airoperated levitation device.
 7. A guideway system as claimed in claim 6wherein said vehicle is propelled by a linear electric motor, oneelement of which is embedded in said system of paths and the otherelement of which is carried by said vehicle.
 8. A transportation systemcomprising: a vehicle having omnidirectional suspension means; aguideway system for said vehicle including a main line having a vehiclesupporting surface and a pair of spaced parallel side walls forlaterally restraining the vehicle, a pair of diverging branch lines eachhaving a vehicle supporting surface, a pair of spaced parallel sidewalls for laterally restraining the vehicle, and a curved transitionsection connecting said main line with said branch line; said transitionsection having a vehicle supporting surface and a pair of spaced sidewalls diverging from the side walls of said main line for laterallyrestraining the vehicle, the outer said wall of said transition sectionconnecting with the outer side wall of one of said branch lines and theinner side wall of said transition section connecting with the outerside wall of the other branch line; the vehicle supporting surface ofsaid transition section being inclined downwardly from its outerperipheral edge to its inner peripheral edge, and the inner side wallsof said branch lines converging at the junction of said branch lines. 9.A guideway system as claimed in claim 8 including means defining aretaining groove on each of the side walls; and a pair of followersselectively and alternately engageable with a respective one of thegrooves to restrain the vehicle against movement from the associatedsidewall.